Welcome to the Summer 2024 A9 Dualling Newsletter.

Thank you for your interest in the A9 Dualling programme. The past few months have been a busy period, with further good progress being made since reaching the first of the milestones set out in the December 2023 delivery plan, with procurement of the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project commencing in May, meeting the Spring 2024 target.  As you will read, we have now reached our second delivery plan milestone, with contract award being achieved for the Tomatin to Moy project. 

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project

Following publication of the Contract Notice in May, pre-qualification submissions were received in July and a shortlist of three bidders was announced on 15 August. The next part of the procurement process takes the form of a period of dialogue with the invited bidders, with award of the construction contract expected in Summer 2025.

Preparatory works are moving forward on the project. Procurement of a contractor for further ground investigation works is currently underway to provide further information to support bidders outline design and construction proposals. Award of this contract is expected shortly, with site works commencing in the Autumn.

Tenders are also currently being sought for archaeological investigation works, with on-site investigations expected in the coming winter and spring. Other advance works, such as utility diversions are also being progressed.

Tomatin to Moy project

In July the preferred bidder for the contract to construct the Tomatin to Moy project was announced as Balfour Beatty.  This was followed on 30 July by award of the £184.7 million contract to Balfour Beatty, marking achievement of the second delivery plan milestone.  Once works get underway on site in the coming months, this will mark the start of the rolling programme of construction work which will continue until dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness is complete.

The dualling works between Tomatin to Moy will upgrade 6 miles (9.6km) of single carriageway to dual carriageway and, when complete, will provide approximately 20 miles (33km) of continuous dual carriageway between Inverness and Slochd.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP, travelled to Tomatin earlier in August to undertake a site visit with Balfour Beatty to hear more about its approach to the construction of the project. Balfour Beatty also updated the Cabinet Secretary on its plans for reducing the carbon impact of its works, and how it intends to engage with the local community as works progress.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop with representatives from Transport Scotland, Balfour Beatty and the AtkinsRealis WSP Joint Venture .

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project

The land required to build the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie section was secured in June. Procurement is expected to get underway next Summer on this 6.4km long section and preparations for this and a range of advanced works required before main construction, such as ecological protection, ground and archaeological investigation works, are now well underway.

Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project

Following the announcement of the preferred route option for the A9 Dualling Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project and the exhibitions held in Birnam earlier this year, local communities and road users got the chance to see and comment on the development of the design for this challenging section of the A9.

Face-to-face public exhibitions were held in Birnam on 21 and 22 August with a total of 203 visitors over the two days, and an online exhibition went live and will run until 6 October. The consultation will help inform the ongoing design development and assessment of the preferred route option which will conclude with the publication of draft Orders for comment in Spring 2025.

The exhibitions included details on access and side road arrangements, facilities for walkers, wheelers, cyclists and horse-riders, drainage design and access proposals to Dunkeld and Birnam Railway Station.

Further information on the scheme can be found on the project Story Map.

Artist’s sketch of Dunkeld and Birnam Station proposals.

Dalraddy to Slochd project

Following initial public exhibitions held in May 2022, the public were given a further opportunity in June to comment on the design of the Aviemore to Carrbridge Non-Motorised User Route (ACNMU) for active travel users such as pedestrians and cyclists. The planning application for the scheme is expected to be submitted to Highland Council in the autumn. Then subject to securing planning consent and acquisition of land, the scheme is expected to be delivered as part of the Dalraddy to Slochd project, providing a 6.2 mile (10km) segregated route between Aviemore and Carrbridge. 

Aviemore to Carrbridge Non-motorised User Route Location Plan.

Thanks for reading – the next edition will be issued towards the end of Autumn 2024.

A9 Dualling Team